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This is our seventh letter highlighting League Conference sessions. Today we highlight one unique session that really stands out on our schedule.

On Wednesday, November 18, at 3:45 p.m., in Hall A of the Atlantic City Convention Center, the League, in conjunction with the N.J. Attorney General’s Office, is honored to join with the New Jersey Chapter of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) to present “Students Tackling Ordinary Problems.”

“Students Tackling Ordinary Problems,” S.T.O.P. is a traveling performance and writing group for high school students. These young people value basic American values. And they use their talents and energies to reinforce and promote those values among other members of their own generation.

Co-sponsored by the Branchburg Youth Services Commission, and the Branchburg Recreation Department, the group, under the director of Miranda DeStefano-Meene, writes a script that includes topics that teens face on a daily basis, such as sexting, cyber bullying, racism and diversity, eating disorders, and substance abuse, to name a few. The goal for the students is to promote self-esteem and good morals to their peers. As a byproduct, they enkindle joy and hope in those of us who have spent a bit more time here, on planet earth.

The Honorable (and justifiably proud) Jim Leonard, Mayor of Branchburg, will preside at this session. The Speakers will be Creighton Drury, Director, Crime Prevention Initiative and Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General; the Honorable Jacquelyn E. Johnson, Councilwoman, East Orange; and Miranda DeStefano-Meene, S.T.O.P. Director. But they know that they are only the ‘warm-up acts.”

The headliners are the S.T.O.P Performers, from Somerville High School, who will generously share their talents with all of us.

At the conclusion of the performance, the floor will be open for attendees to ask the speakers questions, such as, but not limited to, how the show has had an impact on students in various schools, how can a school district create a similar show, and glean information on presenting this show for their own communities.

For more information on this and other sessions, visit the League’s website Annual Conference Page. Also, be sure to read more about the Conference in the October and November editions of our magazine, New Jersey Municipalities.